How to explain Santa to curious kids
This post about how to explain Santa without lying is sponsored by Scholastic.
We’re coming really close to a new era in our family. I have not one but two kids who are asking a lot of questions about Santa, and if he’s real, and so many other questions relating to the magic of Christmas. I know that there’s going to come a time that serious questions are asked, and I have been dreading it for a long time.
Love, Santa by Martha Brockenbrough (in stores now!) is a fantastic tool to help parents explain the truth about Santa Claus when the time comes for that conversation with their children. It’s what I plan to use. Actually, it’s what I’ve planned to use for a long time. You see….
…while the book is new (and wonderfully written and illustrated, it’s a must-have for those of us who’ve chosen to continue the Santa magic in our families), the message behind it isn’t new. Martha Brockenbrough wrote the letter to her daughter when she’d asked questions years ago, and shared it online a year later. I remember this letter, because I’d seen it on Pinterest, and wept through reading it as I knew that one day, it would be my turn to share those words. Yes, that letter went viral, on Pinterest, on Facebook, the New York Times picked it up, and I think it did so because it’s so well written, and touches on the most important parts of what Santa and the magic of Christmas are all about. The letter Martha Brockenbrough wrote to Lucy IS now Love, Santa – which helps parents explain the meaning of Santa.
It’s not that I want to copy Ms. Brockenbrough’s words to her Lucy. Or that anyone does. She just expressed so perfectly what so many of us feel, and offers parents a truthful, gentle way of getting through the turning point of how a child celebrates Christmas with this beautiful interactive book that offers a way for parents to open the door to meaningful conversation about Santa.
Each year, Lucy writes a letter to Santa with her wishes, and each year, Santa leaves gifts…and a letter to Lucy. As Lucy gets older she directs her Santa letter to her mom, and the response is where the magic is for each of us. Ms. Brockenbrough penned the letter to Lucy explaining to her the true spirit and magic of Christmas, and it’s a wonderful way for we parents to have a bit of guidance (or a lot) when having the discussion with our children.
I haven’t shared this book with my children yet. I’m not ready to. I’m going to hold onto the magic just one more year, and see what comes with time. When the time comes, and I know it will, I’ll be ready, at least physically. I’m sad at the idea of the shift for my kids, but also excited because I know that each will be a wonderful part of the Christmas magic for others, and that’s what it’s all about.
Love, Santa
By Martha Brockenbrough
Illustrated by Lee White
In Stores Now! Released September 26, 2017
For Parents and Kids ages 6-11 (for telling the truth about Santa)
In a series of letters, a young girl writes to Santa to ask about the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, and of course, Christmas goodies. Year after year, Santa writes back, and a heartwarming relationship develops, until one year, the girl writes to her mother instead: Mom, are you Santa? Her mother responds to say that no, she is not Santa. Because Santa is bigger than any one person — we bring him out through kindness to one another and the power of imagination. This transformative tale spins a universal childhood experience into a story about love, giving, and the spirit of Christmas.
Learn more about Love, Santa on Scholastic.com
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Follow Hashtag #LoveSantaBook
About the Creators
Martha Brockenbrough is the author of two books for adults and five books for young readers, including The Game of Love and Death, which earned four starred reviews and was a Kirkus Prize finalist, Devine Intervention, and The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and their two daughters. Visit her online at marthabrockenbrough.com.
credit Emerald England
Lee White is an artist and teacher who loves watercolor, print making, and climbing trees. He spends his days splashing paint in his backyard studio, where there are absolutely no clocks allowed! He has illustrated more than fifteen books and shown in galleries across the country, from Los Angeles to New York. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and young son.
#LoveSantaBook
Betty Curran says
I don’t remember how I shared the information about Santa with my children. I had 5 and they were very close in age. I don’t remember that there was ever any problem with the older ones spoiling the fun for the young ones.
This book would have been so helpful. I think I will get it for my granddaughter to have when it is time for her to share with her children.
Leah says
This is a really good way to explain this to kids. I haven’t had to have this talk with my kids yet.
Diana Ajih says
I don’t have a child but when I do, this book will come in handy. I wish I had a book like this when I was little.
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
What a great book! I wish I had that moment of telling my daughter about Santa but someone spoiled that for me when she told my daughter Santa isn’t real.
Debra Hawkins says
I love this letter and we are planning on telling our older daughter about Santa this way too. I am going to have to find this book!
sara says
We do not celebrate Christmas, but I always wondered how you were supposed to explain Santa to children. You do not want to lie, thanks for sharing this great post, it was quite interesting!
Amy H says
Im not ready to explain Santa yet to my son. If he doesn’t believe still, then he’s doing a good job not spoiling it for his little sister. This is a great resource for parents like us….
Anosa says
Ohh, this is very timely for me. My colleague just ask me yesterday that her child is talking about Santa Claus and he has a lot of questions yet she didn’t know how to answer him. Hahaha I will share this to her and let’s see if the questions will all be clear to her kid.
Lisa Marie Heath says
My son went into Kindergarten and within 2 weeks someone told him about Santa. I was crushed and so not ready for him to know that. He asked me, and we had a long discussion about it. I never confirmed or denied – but he knew at that point. Luckily he still plays along every year for my sake. He’s 11 now and looks forward to holiday traditions with us… including Santa inspired ones
Marysa says
My oldest just went through this.. it is nice to have tools to help explain things when it is tough to word answers. I was caught a little off guard and wish I had been a little better prepared.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
My kids are definitely curious about Santa and they have asked a few questions here and there. I think my older daughter is starting to realize that he isn’t a real person. She hasn’t brought it up much though.
Lisa J O'Driscoll says
I’m so scared this conversation is coming sooner than later. My oldest asked me yesterday why they were selling the Elf On The Shelf at Walmart. I told her that they were fake ones for kids to play with since they can’t touch the real one. Whew…dodged that bullet but I don’t have much longer!
Kenneth Agudo says
This is very helpful in explaining it to them. I remember when I was a kid I used to ask so many things about Santa. So we need to be good enough in explaining or else they will catch us! HAHA
Liz @ Yes/No Detroit says
Interesting … sounds like a good idea. I’m Jewish but my dad is Christian, and I think at one point they explained to me that Santa is not real.
Bill Sweeney says
I foresee this conversation in the near future with my kids. I think this would be a great book for us to read together.
Roger D Willis says
I wish we had a book like this when our kids were little. They found out the hard way, unfortunately, through classmates. It was heart-breaking telling them the truth.
Kim says
What a lovely book:) My son never asked about Santa being real or not…he’s now 15. I refused to tell him that Santa wasn’t the one who delivered gifts to our house. When he was 11 I told him that Santa only delivers gifts until you are 10 and then mom and dad get the gifts. I said so many new babies are born each year that he can’t keep up with all the new children in the world so mom and dad help out. This explanation satisfied him.
candy says
We didn’t have anything like this with our kids. They just got old enough to realize that Santa wasn’t real and honestly they were all okay with the whole thing.
Dana Rodriguez says
This looks like a great book that explains to kids who Santa really is. I haven’t had to do that but I am sure it would be difficult!